French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays of Marie De France

Marie de France wrote in Francien with some Anglo-Norman influence. She was evidently proficient in Latin, as were most authors and scholars of the era, as well as English and possibly even Breton language. At a time when most people were illiterate and educated scholars or clerics were usually men, Marie was one of very few women to have achieved such an education. Eugene Mason's 1911 translation of The Lais of Marie de France is thought to be superseded today by some scholars. It was, however, one of the first broad popular translations of one of the great works of Medieval literature, the "Lais" of the mysterious Marie de France, and two other Medieval French romances. Little is known today about Marie de France, save a contemporary mention of her as the author of the "Lais," which were originally long, lyrical poems often sung by the troubadours of the day -- traveling singers who played ancient instruments that have since been forgotten. Marie de France's lais, told in octosyllables or eight-syllable verse, are notable for their celebration of love, individuality of character and vividness of description, hallmarks of the emerging literature of the times. Some refer to the Italian Renaissance, but have forgotten the earlier French flowering of poetry, music and culture, of which Marie was the "queen," although we know only her name and work today. Said to be most popular among women, Marie's "lais" have born fruit to this day, in the form of chivalric, romantic, and even supernatural tales: one of the "lais" is the story of a werewolf.